Modeling the effects of type and concentration of organic modifiers, column type and chemical structure of analytes on the retention in reversed phase liquid chromatography using a single model

Identification and characterization of novel sesquiterpene synthases TPS9 and TPS12 from Aquilaria sinensis

Sesquiterpenes are characteristic components and important quality criterions for agarwood. Although sesquiterpenes are well-known to be biosynthesized by sesquiterpene synthases (TPSs), to date, only a few TPS genes involved in agarwood formation have been reported. Here, two new TPS genes, namely, TPS9 and TPS12, were isolated from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg, and their functions were examined in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), with farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) and geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) as the substrate of the corresponding enzyme activities. They were both identified as a multiproduct enzymes. After incubation with FPP, TPS9 liberated β-farnesene and cis-sesquisabinene hydrate as main products, with cedrol and another unidentified sesquiterpene as minor products. TPS12 catalyzes the formation of β-farnesene, nerolidol, γ-eudesmol, and hinesol. After incubation with GPP, TPS9 generated citronellol and geraniol as main products, with seven minor products. TPS12 converted GPP into four monoterpenes, with citral as the main product, and three minor products. Both TPS9 and TPS12 showed much higher expression in the two major tissues emitting floral volatiles: flowers and agarwood. Further, RT-PCR analysis showed TPS9 and TPS12 are typical genes mainly expressed during later stages of stress response, which is better known than that of chromone derivatives. This study will advance our understanding of agarwood formation and provide a solid theoretical foundation for clarifying its mechanism in A. sinensis.

Development of an Ethanol-Free Salbutamol Sulfate Metered-Dose Inhaler: Application of Molecular Dynamic Simulation-based Prediction of Intermolecular Interaction

INTRODUCTION

More than fifty years after the commercialization of the Ventolin metered-dose inhaler (MDI), its constituent active ingredient, salbutamol sulfate (SS) remains the most prescribed short-acting beta agonist for the first-line treatment of acute asthma attacks and the metered-dose inhaler remains its primary dosage form. The first generation of Ventolin MDI was developed at a time when environmental and regulatory concerns were less stringent than today. The MDI industry is now on the verge of a second major reformulation effort in response to environmental concerns. This paper serves to illustrate how modern computational modeling of molecular interactions can aid the reformulation process. By way of a case study, computational modeling was performed to compare poly(ethylene glycol) 400 (PEG400) and, separately, isopropyl myristate (IPM) as substitutes for the ethanol used in some generic salbutamol sulfate suspension-based hydrofluoroalkane MDIs.

METHODS

PEG400 and isopropyl myristate (IPM) were investigated as potential alternative cosolvents to ethanol in HFA134a-based SS suspension MDI formulations. Density functional theory (DFT) molecular dynamics simulations were used to evaluate the compatibility of the candidate cosolvents with the formulation's components. Corresponding physical formulations were filled into polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and, separately, aluminium canisters. In-vitro pharmaceutical product performance and macroscopic visual appearance were assessed and compared to the results of the simulation studies.

RESULTS

The simulation studies indicated that PEG400 would be a good candidate as a replacement for ethanol whereas IPM would not. The in-vitro and visual assessments support the predicted outcome of the simulation studies.

CONCLUSION

This work suggests that molecular dynamics simulations may provide a useful tool to aid the selection of compatible excipients when reformulating MDI suspension-based products, thereby reducing the time and cost associated with manufacturing and testing of physical samples.

Comparative chemometric and quantitative structure-retention relationship analysis of anisotropic lipophilicity of 1-arylsuccinimide derivatives determined in high-performance thin-layer chromatography system with aprotic solvents

Numerous structurally different amides and imides including succinimide derivatives exhibit diverse bioactive potential. The development of new compounds requires rationalization in the design in order to provide structural changes that guarantee favorable physico-chemical properties, pharmacological activity and safety. In the present research, a comprehensive study with comparison of the chromatographic lipophilicity and other physico-chemical properties of five groups of 1-arylsuccinimide derivatives was conducted. The chemometric analysis of their physico-chemical properties was carried out by using unsupervised (hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis) and supervised pattern recognition methods (linear discriminant analysis), while the correlations between the in silico molecular features and chromatographic lipophilicity were examined applying linear and non-linear Quantitative Structure-Retention Relationship (QSRR) approaches. The main aim of the conducted research was to determine similarities and dissimilarities among the studied 1-arylsuccinimides, to point out the molecular features which have significant influence on their lipophilicity, as well as to establish high-quality QSRR models which can be used in prediction of chromatographic lipophilicity of structurally similar 1-arylsuccinimides. This study is a continuation of analysis and determination of the physico-chemical properties of 1-arylsuccinimides which could be important guidelines in further in vitro and eventually in vivo studies of their biological potential.

Doping reversed-phase media for improved peptide purification

The purification of therapeutic peptides is most often performed using one or more reversed phase chromatography steps. This ensures high purities while keeping the costs of purification under control. In this paper, a doped reversed phase chromatographic material is tested and compared to traditional reversed phase materials. The doping consists of adding limited amounts of ion exchange ligands to the surface of the material to achieve orthogonal separation and increase the non-hydrophobic interactions with the surface. These ionic groups can either be attractive (opposite charge), or repulsive (same charge) to the peptide. The benefit of this new doped reversed phase material is shown through increases in selectivity in diluted conditions and yield and productivity in overloaded (i.e. industrial) conditions. It is the conjectured that all performance characteristics should increase using repulsive doping groups, whereas these characteristics should decrease when using attractive doping groups. This conjecture is shown to be true through several examples, including purifications of industrially relevant peptide crudes, in industrially relevant conditions. Moreover, the effect of ionic strength and organic modifier concentration was explored and shown to be in line with the expected behavior.